John Joseph 'Jack' Kenney, one of the founding members of the Ontario Harness Horse Association, passed away peacefully at Riviera Retirement Lodge in Caledonia, Ont. on Wednesday, October 20 at the age of 92
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Kenney was a lifelong resident of Hamilton and Ancaster, Ont. Predeceased, in 1995 by his dearly-loved wife of 46 years Edna (nee Spencer), and his brother Jim. Kenney was a member and an usher at St. Ann's Catholic Church since 1955. He was a past president and honourary member of the Ancaster Agricultural Society and an honourary member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years.
As a lad in the early thirties, Kenney played football and water polo for Cathedral High school and later moved on to local baseball at Victoria Park. He left school at 15 and went to work at Murph's Store in Binbrook, where he was the postmaster from 1935-37. He worked at Firestone, was a cab driver, worked at Brown's Bread and started the first Driver's Ed school in Hamilton. Kenney ran a successful business in Hamilton for 20 years, Central Auto Body and Paint.
For the next 25 years, Kenney 'retired' to pursue his love of standardbred horses as an owner, trainer and occasional driver. During that time, he was a founding member of OHHA and a negotiator for many of the union's first-ever contracts with the racetracks.
While Kenney was president of the Ancaster Agricultural Society, he made many changes. He brought the Agricultural Department from its location on Market Street in Hamilton to the Ancaster Agricultural Building on Garner Road in Ancaster on a 10-year lease which actually lasted 29 years.
The family would like to send a thank-you to all the staff at the Riviera Retirement Lodge for all of their help. Kenney will be missed by his nieces and nephews, his neighbours, fellow church members, horsemen and his buddies at the Limeridge Mall coffee club. Friends will be received at the Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home, Ancaster Chapel, 378 Wilson Street East on Friday, October 22, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Vigil prayers at 3:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be held at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Ancaster on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Interment White Chapel Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Good Shepherd food bank would be appreciated.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jack Kenney.
(With files from the Hamilton Spectator)